Article dispensing apparatus



April 19, 1960 c, sALlSBURY ETAL 2,933,217

ARTICLE DISPENSING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 22, 1957INVENTORS El lsworfh C. Solisbu y Dona/a H L ATTORNEYS April 19, 1960 E.c. SALISBURY ETAL 2,933,217

ARTICLE DISPENSING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 22, 1957INVENTORS El lsworHw CSolisbury y Dona/0 H Zyons.

ATTOENEKS April 19, 1960 E. c. SALISBURY ETAL 2,933,217

ARTICLE DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed April 22, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 5INVENTORS 9 3 El lsworrh csansbu ATTOP/VEYS April 19, 1960 E. c.SALISBURY ETAL 12,933,217

ARTICLE DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed April 22, 1957 I 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 /V\I I I I I I 45 'T 11 4| I I I I I WI INVENTORS EIIsworIh CScIIIsbury.

A T 7' OPNE Y5 April 19, 1960 c, SALISBURY ET AL 2,933,217

ARTICLE DISPENSING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed April 22. 1957INVENTQRS LZ/Zswgg/ZG 50/560!) BY 0/70 Lyons.

ATTORNEYS into the above mentioned common vertical passage.

United States Patent ARTICLE DISPENSING APPARATUS Ellsworth C. Salisburyand Donald H. Lyons, Columbus, Ohio, assignors to Ideal Dispenser Co.,Columbus, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application April 22, 1957, SerialNo. 654,409

4 Claims. (Cl. 221-109) This invention relates to article dispensingmeans and has special reference to apparatus for storing and deliveringarticles to a coin operated release mechanism.

In general, the present invention applies to a vending machine of thetype which includes storage means for articles to be vended, such asbottled beverages, and suitable coin operated release means adapted torelease a single article responsive to insertion of a coin in themachine. In particular, the present invention relates to a novel articlestoring means that includes a plurality of shelves, vertically spacedone from the other, with the ends of each shelf being in communicationwith a common vertically disposed passage. The ends of said shelves areeach provided with a novel gate mechanism for successively releasingarticles from the shelves to the common vertically disposed passage withwhich the shelves communicate. Each gate mechanism serves to releasearticles from its respective shelf by opening out The horizontallydisposed and inclined shelves, which are vertically spaced one above theother, are successively unloaded from the top shelf downwardly. Withthis arrangement articles stacked in the common vertical passage, withwhich each of the shelves communicate, are utilized to bear against thegate mechanisms of all loaded shelves beneath the one being unloaded andsuch articles thereby serve to retain the gate mechanisms of such loadedshelves in the closed configuration and to successively permit openingof the gate mechanisms as required. Starting with the topmost shelf,after such shelf is unloaded the level of the stack of articles in thecommon vertical passage will be decreased by the release of articlestherefrom to a level at which the topmost article in the common verticalpassage passes to a level below the gate mechanism of a shelf next lowerto the topmost shelf just unloaded. This serves to release such gatemech anism so that articles can pass from such next lower shelf and intothe common vertical passage. This sequence is repeated through each ofthe horizontally disposed and inclined shelves until all of the shelveshave been unloaded.

In general, the novel gate mechanism of the present invention includestwo overlapping gate elements with the inner of said gate elements beingsuspended from a horizontal pivotal axis and with the outer of said gateelements being mounted on a vertical pivotal axis. Said innerhorizontally pivoted gate element is directly engaged by the end articleof its respective shelf and said outer vertically pivoted gate elementis extended partially across the inner gate element and is engaged andretained in a closed configuration by the stack of articles in thecommon vertical passage so long as articles are present in said passageat the level of the gate elements. According to the present inventionthe above mentioned two 'gate elements are arranged, in a novel manner,to retain articles on an inclined shelf again the action of gravitywhich action is utilized to cause articles to roll "irom the shelves tothe common vertical passageway.

Patented Apr. 19, 1960 ice tial force against the articles in the commonvertical passage. Hence any tendency for jamming of the articles in thecommon vertical passageway is completely eliminated.

As another advantageous aspect of the :novel apparatus of the presentinvention, each gate mechanism is arranged to release articles from itsrespective shelf to the common vertical passage in a controlled mannerwhereby each article is gently released from the discharge end of ashelf and onto the top article in the common vertical passage. Suchgentle release is particularly important where glass bottles ofcarbonated beverages are being vended. In effecting such gentle releasefrom the end of a shelf, the gate mechanism also serves to lower anecked type bottle in such a manner that the horizontal axis of therolling bottle is maintained substantially horizontal as it passes fromthe edge of the shelf and onto the topmost bottle in the common verticalpassage.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparentfrom the following description, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings wherein preferred forms of embodiments of the invention areclearly shown.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a front view of a vending machine constructed according tothe present invention, with such view being taken with the front doorremoved as is indicated at 11 in Figure 2;

Figure 2 is a partially broken side view of the vending machine ofFigure 1;

Figure 3 is a top sectional view of the vending machine of the precedingfigure, with the section being taken along the line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a partial perspective view of the vending machine of thepreceding figures showing the novel gate mechanism comprising an aspectof the present invention;

Figure 5 is a front view of the vending machine of the precedingfigures, with the front cover removed, and showing the apparatus as itappears when loaded with articles;

Figures 6 through 8 are partial front views showing stages in thesequence of operation of the novel gate mechanism comprising an aspectof the present invention;

Figures 9 and 10 are partial side views corresponding to Figures 6 and 7and showing stages in the sequence of operation of the novel gatemechanism of Figures 6 through 11;

Figure 11 is a partial top view corresponding to Figure 8 and showinganother stage in the sequence of operation of the novel gate mechanismof Figures 6 through 11; and

Figure 12 is a partial side view showing a modified gate mechanismcomprising an aspect of the present invention.

Referring in detail to the drawing, Figures 1 and .2 illustrate avending machine constructed according to the present invention with suchmachine including a casing indicated generally at 20 which casingcomprises side walls 21 and 22, a top wall 23, and a rear wall 24.Access to the interior of casing 20 is provided by a door 27, Figure 2.For the purpose of revealing the interior construction, Figures 1 and 5show the apparatus with door 27 removed. As seen in Figures 1 and 5, theinterior of casing 20 includes a plurality of .vertically spacedinclined shelves with certain of said shelves being aeeea indicated at30A, 30B, and 30C. Each of the inclined shelves communicate at theirlower ends with a common vertically disposed passage 32. As best seen inFigure "the lower-end of vertically disposed passage 32 deliversarticlesto' an article releasing mechanism indicated generallyat34. We 7Article release mechanism 34 is preferably of a type disclosed in theco-pending application of William A. Patzcr et al., Serial No. 504,786,filed April 29, 1955, now Patent No. 2,877,928, issued March 17, 1959.In general, such release mechanism includes a rotatable trap element 35,Figure 5, arranged to sequentially release articles such as article 36from the bottom of vertically disposed passage 32 to a dischargecompartment 37. Upon insertion of steam in a suitable coin releasemechanism, not illustrated, the rotatable trap 35 of article releasingmechanism 34 is allowed to rotate sufficiently torelease an article,such as 36, and deliver same to a cushion'38 inan open compartment 37 asis illustrated by the article 39 in Figure 5. After an article has beendelivered to the cushion 35, the person making the purchase can reach inand remove the article from compartrnent '37.

"consists of an outer. gate element 49 which overlies an inner gateelement 41 in the manner shown in Figures 2,

""4, '6 and 9. Outer gate-element 40 is arranged to swing outwardly on avertical pivotal axis formed by a hinge pin 43. Inner gate element 41 isarranged to swing outwardly on a horizontal pivotal axis provided by ahinge pin 45. As is best seen in Figure 4, outer gate element isextended across the outer surface of inner gate element 41 when the gateelements are in the closed configuration;illustrated, and outer gateelement) includes a thin outstanding flange 47 which is engaged by thestacked articles in vertical passage 32. Due to the provision of thethin outstanding flange 47 frictional engagementbetween outer gateelement 40 and the articles that move downwardl-yalong the gate isreduced to a minimum. Hence any tendency for articles in verticalpassage 32 to jam is eliminated and smooth operation of the mechanism isassured.

With reference to Figures 6 and 9, the gate mechanism isillustrated in aclosed configuration just prior to the opening thereof. It will be notedthat an article 50is progressing downwardly away from contact with thelower edge 51 of outstanding flange 47 of outer gate -element 40. Thearticles 53, 54, and 55, on inclined shelf 30A are retained stationaryby the'closed gate elements 40 and 41. It will be understood thattendency for thetarticles 53, 54, and to, roll down the incline of shelf30A effects an outward bias against inner gate element 41 which in turnpresses outer gate element 40 ments and roll outwardly into contact witharticle 50,

and articles 54 and 55 will follow article 53 down the incline of shelf30A.

Reference is next made to Figures 8 and 11 which illustrate the nextstep in the release sequence wherein gate elements 40 and 41 have beencompletely opened whereby article 53'has moved completely into verticalpassage '32.

As is best seen in Figures 9 through 11 inner gate element 41 may, asone aspect of the invention, be formed with an inclined lower edge-58which is disposed at an angle relative to the axis of horizontal hingepin 45. Inclined lower edge 58 has a particular function when neckedbottles are being vended in that such inclined lower edge allows theinner surface 63 of inner gate element -41 to maintain frictionalcontact with the upper portion of bottle 53 for a longer period of timethan such inner surface 63 maintains contact with the lower portion ofbottle 53. This arrangement serves to maintain the longitudinal axis ofbottle 53 substantially horizontal as the bottle passes from the edge ofshelf 30A and onto the topmost bottle in vertical passage 32. It hasbeen determined that in cases where the lower edge 58 of inner gateelement 41 is formed so as to be parallel with. the axis of the hingepin 45, the necked portion 60 of the bottle 53 will tend to move aheadof the base portion 61 as the bottle rolls from the edgev of the shelfand onto the top of the stack of bottles in passage 32.

..Such non-horizontal delivery causes jamming and has been avoided bythe use of inclined lower edge 58.

In considering the above described function of inclined lower edge 58 ofinner gate element 41, reference is made to Figures 7, 8, and 10. InFigure 7 it will be noted that the inner surface 63 of inner gateelement 41 engages the outer surface of bottle 53 throughoutsubstantially the entire horizontal extent of inner gate element 41. InFigure 8, however, a portion of the contact of inner surface 63 againstthe outer surface ofbottle 53 has been lost in that the bottle hasprogressed outwardly and downwardly below the upper bottom corner 65 ofinner gate element 41. As the bottle progresses further beyond theposition illustrated in Figures 8 and I l, it will be understood that atfirst only the intermediate and right portion of inner surface 63 ofinner gate element 41 will be in contact with the outer surface of thebottle. Finally, as the bottle progresses further downwardly andoutwardly the right lower corner 67 of inner gate element 41 will be thelast portion of such gate 92. The central lower edge portion 58-A isdisposed' at substantially the same level as the discharge edge of shelf30-A when modified inner gate element 41-A is in-thc closed positionillustrated. The tab portions 91 and 92 extend downwardly below centraledge portion *58-A so that'the centers of the tabs are at substantiallythe same level as the axis of the next lower hinged pivot 45-A of thenext lower inner gate element 41-A.

To provide means for maintaining bottles in vertical passage 32, whendoor 27 is open, a coil spring '70, Figure 5, is shown connected betweentop wall 23 and a frame member 72 at the lower end of vertical passage32. It will be understood that spring 70 can be readily moved laterallyto permit the manual insertion of bottles'in the passageway 32, and,after bottles have been stacked therein, spring 70 is released wherebyit will return to the vertical configuration illustrated in Figure 5.-

The apparatus of the present invention may be constructed with storagecompartments 76, 77, and 78 for precooling the bottles of beverages.After all the articles have been exhausted from inclined shelves 30Athrough 30C, door 27 is opened and the machine is reloaded by removingbottles from one of the storagecompartrnents and by first stacking samein vertical passage 32. As the bottles are stacked in vertical' passageiil each of the gate elements are closed and maintained closed by thepresence of the bottles in the vertical palsage. After the verticalpassage 32 has been filled, each of the shelves 39A through 30C areloaded with bottles.

As previously stated, articles are released from the bottom of verticalpassage 32 responsive to operation of release mechanism 34. The topmostshelf 30A will be the first to unload, as is illustrated in Figure 5,and as the last bottle 80 of Figure 5, leaves the topmost shelf andpasses below the level of the release mechanism for the next lower shelf30B, the gate mechanism for such next lower shelf will open and thebottles will be exhausted from such next lower shelf 3ilB. After thelast bottle 81 of shelf 30B leaves such shelf, and progresses below thenext lower gate mechanism, the sequence is repeated and the shelves willprogressively unload until the last bottle 82 has been released fromlowermost shelf 312C.

It should be pointed out that due to the novel leverage arrangement ofthe present gate mechanism, the force exerted by the bottles on theinner surface of inner gate element 41 or 41-A is reduced to only aslight force exerted by flange 47 on the bottles in vertical passage 32and, conversely, only a slight force need be exerted by the bottles invertical passage 32 to maintain the gate elements in a closedconfiguration. It should be understood that, in this respect, outer gateelement 41 is acting as a lever, the mechanical advantage of whichresults from the location of the forward edge of inner gate element 41or 41-A being close to the lever axis 43 of outer gate element 40. Henceit will be understood that the frictional engagement and force exertedby the outer gate elements 4i) on the articles in vertical passage 32 isso slight that the bottles can readily progress downwardly to therelease mechanism without jamming. Furthermore, due to the incorporationof the lower edge constructions 58 or 58-A, on the inner gate elements41 or 41-A, the bottles are delivered from the shelves to the stack in acontrolled manner whereby jamming of the bottles as they leave theshelves is effectively prevented.

While the forms of embodiments of the present invention as hereindisclosed constitute preferred forms, it is to be understood that otherforms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims whichfollow.

We claim:

1. In a dispensing machine characterized by a vertically extendingpassage leading to a release mechanism and a plurality of rackscommunicating with said passage at a plurality of verticallysuperimposed openings, the

combination of a first gate mounted to the top of one of said openingsfor pivotal movement about a horizontal axis; a second gate mounted tothe side of said one opening for pivotal movement about a vertical axis,said second gate being movable about a vertical axis, said second gatebeing movable from a first position wherein it extends across said firstgate and obstructs movement of said first gate from a closed position toa second position away from obstructing relationship with said firstgate whereby said first gate is released, said second gate beingretained in said first position by contact with articles stacked invertically extending passage; means for retarding movement of an articlepassing throough said opening, the application of said retarding effecton difiierent portions of said moving article being of differentmagnitudes; and means for urging said articles towards said gates; saidretarding means being provided by a lower edge of said second closuremember being inclined relative to said horizontally extending pivotalaxis.

2. A vending machine for bottles comprising, in combination a verticallyextending passage provided with an outlet for connection with an articlereleasing mechanism; a plurality of inclined shelf means disposed oneabove the other; a pivoted gate element suspended from each of saidshelf means at a lower edge thereof adjacent said passage, each of saidpivoted gate elements being nor mally disposed in overlying relationshipwith a pivot of the next lower pivoted gate element; and a pivoted levermounted to the side of one of said openings for pivotal movement about avertical axis, said pivoted lever being movable from a first positionwherein it extends across said gate element and obstructs movement ofsaid gate element from a closed position to a second position away fromobstructing relationship with said gate element whereby said gateelement is released, said pivoted lever being retained in said firstposition by contact with articles stacked in said vertically extendingpassage; and means associated with the rack leadingto said one openingfor urging articles supported thereon against said first gate, saidpivoted gate elements including lower edges inclined relative to theplane of the surfaces of support provided by said shelf means.

3. In a dispensing machine characterized by a vertically extendingpassage leading to a release mechanism and a plurality of rackscommunicating with said passage at a plurality of verticallysuperimposed openings, the combination of a first gate mounted to thetop of one of said openings for pivotal movement about a horizontalaxis, said first gate including a lower edge having a tab portionextending beyond a free edge thereof; a second gate mounted to the sideof said one opening for pivotal movement about a vertical axis, saidsecond gate being mounted to the side of one side opening for pivotalmovement about a vertical axis, said second gate being movable from afirst position wherein it extends across said first gate and obstructsmovement of said first gate from a closed position to a second positionaway from obstructing relationship with said first gate whereby saidfirst gate is released, said second gate being retained in said firstposition by contact with articles stacked in said vertically extendingpassage; and means associated with the rack leading to said one openingfor urging articles supported thereon against said first gate.

4. A vending machine for bottles comprising, in combination a verticallyextending passage provided with an outlet for connection with an articlereleasing mechanism; a plurality of inclined shelf means disposed oneabove the other; a pivoted gate element suspended from each of saidshelf means at a lower edge thereof adjacent said passage, each of saidpivoted gate elements including a lower edge having a tab means inoverlying relationship with the pivot of the next lower gate element;and a pivoted lever mounted to the side of one of said openings forpivotal movement about a vertical axis, said pivoted lever being movablefrom a first position wherein it extends across said gate element andobstructs movement of said gate element from a closed position to asecond position away from obstructing relationship with said gateelement whereby said gate element is released, said pivoted lever beingretained in said first position by contact with articles stacked in saidvertically extending passage; and means associated with the rack leadingto said one opening for urging articles supported thereon against saidfirst gate.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,638,792 Wingate Aug. 9, 1927 1,831,893 Tratsch Nov. 17, 1931 1,897,072Parks et al. Feb. 14, 1933 2,304,484 Smith Dec. 8, 1942 2,336,382Albrecht Dec. 7, 1943 2,358,563 Donaldson Sept. 17, 1944 2,473,054Donaldson et al June 14, 1949 2,531,347 Voigtritter Nov. 21, 19502,570,516 Bowman Oct. 9, 1951 2,626,849 James Jan. 27, 1953 2,680,050James June 1, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,091,027 France Oct. 10, 1953

